Humm family takes the honors at Rural Urban Day

The Humm family of the St. Louis area was named Gratiot County’s Farm Family of the Year.

Kent and Olan Humm, along with their wives Erica and Erin – and parents Ted and Sandy Humm – were all on hand to accept the award Thursday night at the annual Rural Urban Day event.

But the brothers almost didn’t make it.

“They had to break it to us this afternoon,” Olan said. “We weren’t coming (to the dinner). We were thrashing.”

Kent – whose older by three years – and Olan are fifth generation farmers. Their ancestors came from Germany, first to Ohio and then St. Louis.

“The boys helped their dad with farming while they were in high school, then each of them went on to college and worked in other occupations for a few years, but still helped on the farm in their spare time,” Jeff Bosley, last year’s winner, said.

In 2004, they formed a partnership with their dad and began farming about 2,800 acres full time, he said.

There was no question the route would find him back to farming, Olan said, especially, “when we could rent more land.”

Both are active in the community with the fair and 4-H clubs, and with the FFA alumni association. Kent and his wife Erica have two children and Olan and his wife Erin have four.

The family will host “Breakfast on the Farm” on Aug. 17.

Winner of the agribusiness award for 2013 is MAC in Breckenridge and Middleton. In addition to storing crops, the company also stores chemicals and fertilizers.

Host Jim Summerville said about 750 to 800 people braved the heat for the annual steak dinner.

Linda Gittleman may be reached at 989-463-6071, lgittleman@michigannewspapers.com or on Facebook at www.facebook.com/lgittleman.